Mystery ranch CC...advice

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Dec 29, 2015
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I have a chance to buy a new crew cab but it was made in 2011 it just hasn't been used for 300$....the frame isn't the NICE frame I don't believe. This would be my first mystery ranch pack. For those who's been using them for awhile is this a good deal and would you recommend this pack. I'd be mostly day packing in the mtns of GA I do have a trip planned in Idaho this year. Is there enough room for a multi-day hunt? Mostly though I'd be 1 to 2 days mostly.

Thanks for your time!

Ben
 
I have a horn hunter full curl system now and I'm just not ecstatic about it. It gets the job done don't get me wrong but a lot of people like mystery ranch just never had any experience with them.
 
I have a crew cab and NICE frame. They work seamlessly together. The biggest advantage is obviously the flexibility of the bag system. I would be skeptical of using another frame. What is the frame? Pics? You need the rigidity that the NICE frame provides.
 
This is the bag and frame
 

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Looks to me that this frame would do way better than the full curl and be able to take more of a load and distribute a load better.
 
I've had the same pack for about a year now. I pair mine with a 55L OR drybag and an MR daypack lid to create a really versatile system. I've had it up to 5 days, and that was winter camping. I really like mine. I am currently toying with trying the new Kifaru frame, but more just to tinker than me not liking my CC. Is it the best pack currently out there? No, I don't think so. But it is still a really good pack. Heavy, but the tradeoff is that it's nearly indestructible, which goes for something in my book. The pack itself, I tend to use it more as a load sling for carrying the dry bag and keep what I want quick access to in the lid. It is nice to have the option to use the pack for quick trips however. It packs meat like a champion. People knock the NICE frame for the lack of load lifters but I carry 60-80lb loads that ride on the pelvis just fine and I am 6' tall. I have a lift kit for the frame and don't think it does much.
 
I have used the MR nice frame with the crew cab, longbow, and then the metcalf bag when it came out. Really liked the idea of the crew cab bag and really wanted it to work for me, but ended up selling it as it seemed to be a 'jack of all, master of none' bag. When filling it, it filled out away from your back and to the sides. To get the load to go higher, you needed some type of dry bag or stuff sack, and then it seemed like it kind of defeated the purpose of the design of the crew cab bag. Why not just get a different pack bag that is an actual 'bag'. Even when using it to pack (elk) quarters, the weight always seemed to ride too low. I'd do my best to cinch up the weight above the hip belt, but the design of the pack made it difficult to do that, and I never discovered a way to make the bag ride higher on the nice frame. I used it with and without the 'lift kit' accessory to raise up the load lifter straps. It rode better with the lift kit, but still had the issues described above.

For me, I found that I like an actual pack bag to put stuff in to keep the rain, snow, dust, etc off and to contain all my stuff. Also, like everyone usually says about MR packs, it was heavy. I really wanted to like it and use it for a day pack where I could go out light and be able to pack an elk quarter or more back out, but when my base pack weight was ~8lbs before putting anything in the pack, my day pack weight jumped significantly.

I think the NICE frame (with lift kit) is very comfortable for me, and I still have the NICE frame, Longbow bag, and Metcalf (although I haven't used them in a while except as meat haulers and the metcalf as an overnighter/multiday pack) due to getting a lighter pack for day hunting.

I really like the layout of the Longbow bag. I feel like it was designed for me, but the overall base weight of the pack give me pause to grab it for a day pack when there are other options out there that do the job at almost half the pack weight.

Good luck with your decision!
 
Thanks for yalls opinions! I'm a go try it on tomorrow and maybe try it our for awhile to compare it to the full curl and see which one I like the best. Gotta see if it fits me good first.
 
I have a crew cab and love it for day hunts. Carries a spotter well and can handle loads well over 100 pounds more comfortably than any other pack I've used (never worn a Kifaru though, but I do have one on the way). For any type of overnight hunt I would recommend going with a different pack, it just isn't designed for that purpose. If you buy it be sure to get load lifters, I don't use them unless I have a heavy load of meat and store them partially connected between the bag and frame.
 
For what you need it for and for the $300, I think it might be a decent option. Can you spend more on a Kifaru and be more comfortable? Sure. But if you are looking for a daypack in GA and want something that will work for your western hunt, it will work. If I remember, that Full Curl isn't exactly light either. Also, if I remember from when I went down to the MR offices here in Bozeman a few years ago and tried on the MR CC, you have to crisscross the straps on the bottom for it to hold something like a load shelf. You'll just want to be aware of that. You can go a Kifaru. I did. And I have almost a grand into it, but I can walk out of my office right now and drive under 5 minutes to a mountain and be hiking.
 
I'll throw in a few more of my experiences. I agree with the assessment that it is a "jack of all trades, master of none". That is exactly what sold me on the pack. I don't need to collect bags like my wife collects purses to do just about anything short of an expedition, and I still have a great daypack I keep in my truck and be ready to roll at all times.

Among the other things I have hauled with this pack: Treestand with climbing sticks, summit climber, two cases of beer (woods party), my 55 lb black lab (just curious), my 18:1 archery target (practice back in the woods). I've seen a picture of someone hauling a half keg with it. It has enough straps to secure any load you can come up with.

Someone pointed the redundancy of a drybag. To me that is another plus because it keeps my stuff guaranteed dry, and I hunt a lot in wet weather, along waterways, etc. It came in handy this past September when I shot my bull in the evening, my Dad and I emptied all our non-essentials into the dry bag, hung that in a tree, and packed out two quarters and scraps that night and came back the next day for the rest. It poured over night so the dry bag was needed to be able to do that.

Here is my setup packed for a 3 night winter camping trip. 35 lbs with everything but water.

 
I ended up not getting the crew cab....the frame wasn't the right size and it just wasn't big enough. Does anyone have any experience with the Metcalf?
 
I own a Gen. 1 metcalf. great pack but very simple I like a little more organization then what it allows. I Like the looks of the new metcalf bags. the Gen1 is very minimalist. I bought another high end pack to try to replace it (not a Kifaru) and I ended up sending it back because I didn't want to sacrifice a little more organization for the comfort i get with MR.
 
Have you use the Metcalf in a week long hunt by chance or packed some heavy loads with it? Overall though sounds like you're happy with it.
 
I have 3 young kids so a week has been a little long for momma! but I did a 5 day supported buy horseback it has a lot more room then I thought and the lid helps. I purchased the lift kit with it just to try and think it helps a little I was very pleased how it hauled loads before. I prefer the comfort of the nice frame although not crazy about the weight of the frame. I really like the improvements they made on the new Metcalf. if you like well built stuff and good craftsmanship you'll love the pack. even with the new packs being made overseas i'm sure they'll still be well built.
 
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